This past weekend, over 1,400 cyclists and their friends and families from 40 different states visited the area, providing not only an economic boost, but also valuable exposure.

The 12^th annual Cycle North Carolina Coastal Ride, an event bringing guests from all over the state and parts of the country to bike arguably some of the most beautiful biking routes in eastern North Carolina. The event was the fourth time the City of Washington has hosted the event, organized by Cycle North Carolina, and the second-straight year the ride has sold out.

With the first Music in the Streets and Saturday Market of the year occurring this past weekend, guests and residents alike flooded the downtown historic district and Stewart Parkway to see some of Washington’s most popular events, featuring local music acts and locally made and grown products. The traffic generated by the two events, as well as Cycle NC’s event, it was a good weekend of business for the area, according to local business owners.

Inner Banks Outfitters, owned by Liane Harsh, experienced triple the business it normally would in a weekend, Harsh said. The business is specific to providing services for kayakers, cyclists and other recreational activity enthusiasts, including bike repairs, accessories and kayak and paddleboard rentals, all of which were called upon by patrons in some way, according to Harsh.

“The majority of my business was because of (Cycle NC),” Harsh said. “It’s a pretty cool cycling event. It brings so much to our town, the top of it being economically beneficial. (Beaufort County) is just a great place for people to ride and experience. We really have some of the best riding I’ve ever experienced. The roads are flat, the majority of motorists are considerate and no one got hurt that I’m aware of. For 1,400 cyclists to be here and to be able to say that, it’s pretty impressive.”

Harsh went on to say that activities and events like Cycle NC bring attention to the area, as well, which could facilitate someone coming to the area to vacation, if not purchase real estate or relocate.

Another local business owner Leigh Gertz, owner of Bloom Women’s Apparel, reported a high-traffic weekend, the majority of which was due to cyclists and their friends and family. Gertz also heard positive feedback from out-of-towners visiting for the cycling event, which she credits to the charm of the town reflected through local businesses and events like MITS and Saturday Market, she said.

“They were really excited about the town and how much it has grown and is growing,” Gertz said. “Everyone commented on how much we have to offer. I heard someone say, ‘Oh my goodness, what ya’ll have here is unreal. We’ve had so much fun and can’t wait to do it again.’ There were the nicest people. They were just really excited about it and learning about our town and what there is to do.”

Lynn Wingate, director of Washington Tourism and Development, said her organization will be doing a follow-up survey, asking for feedback from cyclists that visited over the weekend in regard to how much money they spent and other questions. Wingate heard 40 states were represented in Washington this weekend through the cycling event, most of whom were first-time visitors—visitors who were staying at hotels, private residences and bed and breakfasts, eating in area restaurants, purchasing items from local stores, buying gas, paying for local services and more, Wingate said.

“The exposure is immeasurable,” Wingate said. “I can’t think of any other event that brings this many people to the area that haven’t been here before and not just in Washington—Belhaven had cyclists Friday and Saturday night. The same is true for Bath. They were around the community. These were cyclists for this event. They eat in our restaurants, they want to learn our history, explore our attractions and they really do immerse themselves in our community. And it’s great exposure because it’s not just someone driving here and staying for an hour or two. These people certainly had an opportunity to see what Washington and Beaufort County has to offer. There was just so much going on. It was the perfect weekend to show off. If you really wanted to know what they quality of life was like in Washington, you saw it first-hand this weekend. It was as good as it gets.”